Twitch Extensions will bring new 'interactive experiences' to streams

Game-specific overlays will enhance the viewer experience for Overwatch, Hearthstone, League of Legends, and more.

Twitch unveiled a new way for streamers to share "interactive experiences" with their audiences today called Twitch Extensions, which can be integrated directly into live video streams to help "grow the unique relationship between creators and their communities." Some Extensions, like Gear on Amazon and Kappa Pet, can be used on any channel, while others are designed for use with specific games including Hearthstone, Overwatch, League of Legends, and Destiny.

Twitch will offer 20 Extensions at launch, but product manager Ryan Lubinski said that it's an open platform, so anyone can build an Extension to suit their needs. "If you have an idea, you can make it a reality right on Twitch. Our timeline for adding extensions is immediate—the more interest from the community, the more extensions we’ll have," he said. Furthermore, Twitch isn't targeting specific games with Extensions, so the field is wide open: "If the community wants an Extension for a given game, Twitch Extensions allows them to build it."

The first 20 Twitch Extensions will be:

Destiny Armory Overlay by Grab Games: Dive into Destiny gear, view details on perks, get class info, and more - all seamlessly incorporated into the stream.

Gear on Amazon: This panel highlights Partners and Affiliates’ favorite products on Amazon, making it easy for viewers to find and purchase them. It also helps fans support their favorite creators, since members of the Amazon Associates program earn commissions.

Hearthstone Match Ticker by Battlefy: Live ticker for Hearthstone tournaments on Battlefy.

TRN Rocket League Live Tracker by Tracker Network: Tracks Rocket League skill ratings.

What’s Playing by Pretzel Tech: Shows what music is currently playing on stream.

"Game developers who see the value Extensions bring are already partnering with Extension developers to create interactivity that’s deeply integrated with the game being streamed," Lubinski said. "Some of our Extension developers ARE game developers, like Proletariat, creators of the StreamLegends game Extension."

Naturally, Extensions will also unlock new monetization opportunities for streamers. Lubinski said details will be revealed during the TwitchCon dev day on October 19, but the "first step" in that process will be the Gear on Amazon extension that will enable Twitch Partners and Affiliates to promote selected products from Amazon directly through the Twitch dashboard.

"Many Twitch creators currently use the Amazon Associates program to promote products, but this Extension streamlines the sign-up process and removes the need to manage messy hyperlinks," he explained. Once the Gear on Amazon extension is installed, the creator's list of featured products will appear as a widget on their Twitch channel page."

A rollout date hasn't been announced but Twitch said the new Extensions are "coming soon." Developers interested in learning how to build their own Extensions can get started at the dev.twitch.tv portal.